Potential Council merger reaches next stage

The proposed merger between Warwick District Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council will be considered at their Cabinet meetings at 6pm on Thursday 9 December. The committee papers for the meeting have now been published.

The report – Proposal to create a South Warwickshire District Council – provides comprehensive evidence for elected members at Warwick District Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council in relation to the proposal to create a South Warwickshire District Council.  

The report contains several pieces of information and evidence including:

• Information about the newly established Joint Arrangement Steering Group 
• Information about the establishment of a Programme Team 
• Financial disclosure review by the Local Government Association
• Report from the Local Government Association in relation to the additional savings which can be provided through a constitutional merger
• Development of a Programme Risk Register in relation to the merger proposals
• Consultation exercise in relation to the proposal to create the South Warwickshire District Council
• Evaluation of options available to both councils  

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council said: “Since the beginning of the year, additional research and evidence has been collected to enable both Councils to now consider whether we wish to make a formal submission to the DLUHC to create this new entity.  

“This is probably the most significant decision that either Council has had to consider since they were established in 1974. It is now up to us to make the right decision based on the information presented to us.”

A recommendation will be made by both Cabinets separately, either to formally request the submission of a business case proposal to the Secretary of State at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to create a South Warwickshire District Council, or to reject this proposal which would then be considered by both Councils on Monday 13 December.